A U.S. District court has issued a preliminary approval for the Volkswagen 2.0-liter TDI diesel settlement program. Owners of affected VWs will receive [highlight style=”default”]notification of their options and rights[/highlight] under the terms of settlement once the courts issue a final approval on October 18. VW will offer cash payments to the vehicle owners, plus offer the choice to sell back the vehicle or terminate the lease. or repair the vehicle. The EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB) have to approve the emissions modification, which has not been finalized. VW does not have an approved repair for vehicles with the 3.0 liter V6 diesel engines, which are not part of the settlement negotiations.

LED strobe light kits are offered by Ford on the 2016 F-Series Super Duty and now all 2016 F-150 models. The [highlight style=”default”]factory-installed kits[/highlight] are designed for use by municipal, DOT, utility, road construction and public works crews that need enhanced vehicle visibility on or near a work site. The lights can be seen as far away as 1,000 feet and have a programmable flash pattern.

Tesla met with the US Senate Commerce Committee regarding the [highlight style=”default”]recent Model S fatal crash[/highlight] in Florida. The auto manufacturer [highlight style=”default”]believes the accident was not related to Autopilot[/highlight], but instead has two theories that could explain the accident. They feel the braking system’s camera didn’t detect the oncoming truck or that the system saw the truck as a part of a stationary structure, which would not trigger the braking system. The braking system is separate from Autopilot.

In related news, Tesla is working on a [highlight style=”default”]new version of Autopilot[/highlight]. No word yet on when the new system will be introduced, as it’s still underdevelopment. Multiple reports say that the system will feature a new front-facing three-camera array plus additional radar sensors around the vehicle.

The sixth annual [highlight style=”default”]National Drive Electric Week[/highlight] takes place the week of September 10 to 18, 2016. Over 100 cities across the US will hold events to promote plug-in electric cars and give the public opportunities to learn about the vehicles first hand. Attendees can go for a test-drive, participate in rallies and attend information sessions. Click [highlight style=”default”]here[/highlight] to find an event near you. The program includes several Canadian cities.